FROM DISCARDED WIFE TO UNTOUCHABLE WOMAN

Do it Again

Serena's POV

I stared at him, trying hard to fathom his expressionless face.

He raised the suit and held it with a finger, as if it were a rag.

“What is this?”

I looked at the suit and then back at him. “What can you tell it is?”

Elliot Vance's lips curled into a smirk before he dropped the suit on the desk.

“Do you have a death wish?”

I chuckled. “No, of course not. I still have many important things to do with my life.”

I paused and added, “I wonder why you do not like the suit, Mr Vance.” I walked over, picked the suit and held it to his neck, staring at how it suited him.

“Look, the colour suits you perfectly. Much better than what your stylist matches you with.”

I held the sleeve to his arm and shook my head. “Oh, I guess that's the problem. Your arm is muscular and won't fit in. Well, we'll just have to adjust it. You can't blame me, Mr Vance, how was I to know your size?”

He stared at me coldly but I was oblivious of it.

Suddenly, he grabbed my arm and held me back.

“This is no joke, Miss Cole. I can have you arrested with just a phone call.” His voice was low and deep but I wasn't scared.

I brushed his hand off. “Don't you think that's a little too much? Besides, it was an accident. I replaced the suit with what I could afford. What were you expecting?”

He placed his hands into his pocket and stared at me. “It seems you have the talent of talking too much and explaining yourself brazenly, why didn't you use this to secure your failed marriage?”

Silence filled the air.

That did it.

I gritted my teeth and was about lashing out when the door to the room suddenly flew open and an aged man was wheeled in. Two bodyguards followed behind him.

Mr Vance's gaze immediately fell on the aged man. “What are you doing here?”

His voice was laced with anger and surprise. I dragged myself to the corner of the room.

“Since you have foolishly ignored my calls, I have decided to take the next step.” The aged man said and a bodyguard handed a file to Mr Vance.

His face darkened immediately he opened the file and read the contents. He slammed the file on the desk.

“You can't do this, Dad!” Elliot Vance shrieked, veins visible on his forehead. “I have told you plainly that I don't do love!”

I wondered whether to step out and excuse myself from this familial drama. It seemed that they have already removed me themselves as no one remembered I was there.

I began to walk out of the room when Elliot Vance's sharp voice sent shivers down my spine.

“I haven't dismissed you yet, Serena?” All eyes turned to me. “If you leave this building, your punishment will be worse.”

He then said to one of the bodyguard, “Escort her to the garden.”

I was led out, and until I reached the end of the hallway, I could hear father and son arguing.

“If you do this, you'll regret it Dad.” Elliot said. “I don't have the intentions of getting married, and taking all I have to give to Finn is a huge mistake that the Vance family will never recover from.”

“Elliot, I would never have entertained the thought of passing the inheritance to Finn but you have forced me to take this decision. For years, I have allowed you do what you want even at the expense of the Vance family.”

The aged man coughed and then continued, “You have missed important functions, you have disregarded what the Vance family represents, you have turned yourself into a maniac that all should fear, you have done so much that I cannot even list all.”

“I am not mad at all these, and that is why as my favorite child, I let you do what will make you happy.”

He paused and stared at Elliot, “What I won't let you do however, is let the very name I built into what it is today to end with you.”

“You're not an immortal, Elliot.” The frail man shook unusually in his seat. “I have made this clear to you several times! You need to get married and have an heir! You have disregarded my wish and advice for years now, knowing that I have only few months left to live.”

He coughed terribly but did not stop. “I won't die without knowing that my hard work will fall in the right hands in the end.”

“Dad–”

“For this reason,” he continued. “Both you and Finn have nothing to your name save your cars and houses. Whoever gets married and bears an heir before my time will receive the inheritance.”

Elliot slammed his fist on the desk. “You can't do this, Dad!”

“I just did. And if you decide to forfeit everything I have worked so hard for due to your stupid decision of not wanting to get married, then I'll regret ever having you as my son!” Old Mr Vance snapped his fingers and the guard turned to wheel him out of the room.

Just before he reached the door, Elliot spoke.

“If mom were here, she would have understood me.”

Old Mr Vance stopped in his tracks.

“Even though you know fully well why I choose not to get married, you have neglected that just to satisfy your own ego!”

“f**k being your favourite child! What has that done for me, other than using me as your tool to achieve selfish desires. You've never truly cared.”

“All along you've always wanted Finn. It was his mother you loved to the bone. My mother was just another side piece you used for your selfish desires!”

“Elliot!” Old Mr Vance's voice rang out but Elliot was beyond furious.

“What? You think I don't know the truth? Isn't that the reason why over the years you've constantly set I and Finn against one another? In all, I have beaten Finn hands down! Even though I am the first son and rightfully deserve the inheritance, you made me compete for it!”

“Not another word, Elliot!”

Elliot took in a deep breath and ran his hands through his hair. He couldn't believe what was happening.

“You've always beaten Finn hands down, then you can do it again.”

Old Mr Vance was wheeled out without another glance at Elliot.